Classification and Typology

Wetland Classification and the Queensland Wetland Habitat Typology

Wetlands are inherently dynamic systems that influence and are influenced by a complex range of environmental variables and undergo cycles of wetting and drying over temporal and spatial scales. Like most natural systems, no two wetlands are the same and as a result, distinguishing wetlands into meaningful, discrete types can be challenging. Nonetheless, the characterisation (whether through a general ‘typology’ or more detailed and specific ‘classification’) of wetlands into ecologically relevant groups that are more like each other than others, and that share similar ecological and physical drivers, can still be very useful and has been an important component of the Queensland Wetlands Program.

Recently there has been agreement at an Australian national level to accept a wetland characterisation based on broad wetland ecosystems (Cowardin et al. 1979) as follows:

• marine (coastal wetlands including rocky shore)
• estuarine (including deltas, tidal marshes and mangrove swamps)
• riverine (wetlands along rivers and streams)
• lacustrine (lakes and dams)
• palustrine (marshes, swamps and bogs) wetlands.

Reservoirs (including water storage areas, excavations, wastewater ponds, irrigation channels, rice fields and canals) and subterranean (inland subterranean wetlands) have also been identified as wetland types.

Last updated: 25 August 2009